Inspiration

Books, podcasts, series and movies for summer 2024

Be amazed with this personal overview of e-books, movies, documentaries, series and podcasts.

Author: Iemke Imhof

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Iemke Imhof's reading tip

'When the world broke' by John Boyne

You could think of this book as a sequel to "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. What makes this story so special is that it is set in the present. Gretel, now a very elderly woman, impressively shows how her life is still affected by the events of her childhood.

As the daughter of a camp commander, Gretel struggles with the question of to what extent she is responsible for what happened in the camps and for the fate of her little brother Bruno.

The story has many great plot twists. I did not find the book heavy despite the theme; stronger it makes you think about yourself and your own values. It is so beautifully written, it doesn't let you go. A gem.

Iemke's movie tip

Poor things

I don't like science fiction, but this absurdist and hilarious film for which Emma Stone more than deservedly received an Oscar completely grabbed me. Some call it a contemporary feminist Frankenstein.

The central theme is Bella's development, from child in an adult's body to adult in an adult's body. The idea of a person walking her own path, really saying whatever comes to mind and being able to discover her (sexual) identity without all the expectations and formative rules of society is wonderful. The images, locations, setting and costumes are pure art and cult and breathtaking. The film lasts over 2.5 hours but is over before you know it.

Do make sure you see this movie in the theater or at home without distractions. An experience for years to come.

Brigitte Huisman's reading tips

Book tip: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

About a woman who decides to hike the 1,700-mile Pacific Crest Trail in western America. On her own, she will hike for no less than three months. Setbacks, exciting moments and beautiful encounters cross her path. The book is gripping, inspiring and amusingly written. When I finished the book, I immediately felt like going on the road again. And a week of hiking in the mountains of Austria suddenly feels quite boring 😉.

The book tips of Levi Schuurman

Lisan Hutten's reading tips

This one I am going to read:The Midnight Library by Matt Haig-in this book, the main character gets to live different versions of her life based on the choices she could have made. "What if...?" Spoiler: in the end it's all about mindset 😉.

A truly recommended read that I have already read: The Camino. This literary fiction tells the story of a war criminal from the Yugoslav war. What I think makes this book special is the way it highlights the side of the perpetrators. Through in-depth character development, as a reader you are challenged to feel empathy for someone who has committed atrocities.

For a quick read: Sally Rooney 's books are almost always enjoyable.

Kees Koevoets' viewing tip

The best series this year is The Gentlemen, a series on Netflix by Guy Ritchie. Very funny and dynamic. If you haven't seen it yet, definitely do!

Nancy van Bokhorst's viewing tip

The best series I would like to give as a tip is Das Boot. Not the movie but the series.

Everyone knows the movie, but the series with 4 seasons is much nicer.

Alexander Beyleveldt's viewing tip

My tip is to watch this fantastic docusoap with humor:

Clarkson's Farm isa British docusoap centered around the life of television presenter Jeremy Clarkson and his attempts to run his own farm in the Cotswolds.

The first season they face unpredictable weather, wayward animals, poorly growing crops and an unexpected pandemic.

Boudewijn van der Hart's reading tip

My tip for the summer it the book The Nazi Conspiracy.

An exciting spy story about the 1943 summit meeting between Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin - and how it almost ended in a catastrophe that could have changed World War II.In 1943, while the war against Nazi Germany was raging in full force, President Franklin Roosevelt wanted an important meeting with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This meeting in Tehran was supposed to yield crucial strategic decisions. When the Nazis discovered that this meeting would take place, they forged a secret deadly plot that could have changed history.

The reading tips of Jelmer Haites

Last year "Sapiens" was on my list, and this year I read its sequel, "Homo Deus. This book is packed with historical facts, coupled with contemporary developments, and offers a preview of future scenarios.

Book: Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari:A small history of the future

Book: The Dealmaker by Guy Hands

A must-read for anyone interested in private equity and deal-making.

This book tells the story of Guy Hands, who, despite severe dyslexia, graduated from Oxford and became a serial entrepreneur. His career, first at Nomura and then as head of Terra Firma, is detailed. Terra Firma's deals, ranging from cinema chains to green energy, offer deep insight.

Especially fascinating is Hands' honest description of the near-fatal takeover of EMI in 2007, just before the financial crisis. This case study is of great value to anyone in corporate finance.

'The Dealmaker' provides a clear picture of the pressures and rewards in private equity, offering both inspiration and essential knowledge about big business negotiations.

Sonja Welbergen's tips

I bought The Nomad by Anya Niewierra. I enjoy reading a real book in the summer. I've really liked her previous books, The Camino and The Flower Girl, now I'm curious about The Nomad. It's about a travel journalist living with her demented father in the Harz Mountains in Germany. She discovers documents about her family's past from the former Soviet Union and stumbles upon a chilling secret ... it looks like an exciting and impressive book.

I really enjoy the hospital series House, which I am currently watching on Netflix for the third time! Eight 😊 seasons with Dr. House, a brilliant and cynical doctor who solves mysterious medical issues with his team with several young doctors. Extraordinary that a series with so many seasons is fun to follow until the end. If you do not know this series, highly recommended!

Another thing on my list is a book by Dave Goulson, Silent Earth. This book is about the insect world and is also a plea for a greener planet. My neighbor gave me one of his earlier books, which is about bees and bumblebees. We keep a number of bee colonies in the garden ourselves; so it was a really fun book for me to read.

The tip from Daan Steenbergen

One of the books I will definitely (un)read this summer is "Addicted to Our Own Rightness" by Lammert Kamphuis.

In this easy-to-read booklet, Kamphuis proposes philosophizing as training to see the world from multiple perspectives. A mirror and a must read for anyone who wants to go through life with less frenetic thinking and more curiosity.